Extensible case.



No. 754.815. PATENTED MAR. 15. 1904.

E. G. SGHRIEFBR'.

EXTENSIBLE CASE. APPLICATION FILED ran. a, 1902.

no MODEL. .2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904. E. G. SGHRIBFER. EXTENSIBLB CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1'33- 3, 190B.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

NiTnn STATES Patented March 15, 1904.

PATENT @rrrcn.

EXTENSIBLE CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,815, dated March 15, 1904.

. Application filed February 3, 1902. Serial No. 92,463. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Gr. SCHRIEFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Cases, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide an extensible case comprising a case section or sections having a back and sides without top or bottom, a top unit, and a bottom unit for forming a case in which a cabinet unit or units or a shelf or shelves may be passed up and down'and secured at desirable elevations with a sectional curtain or apron; and my in-- vention consists in providing a case of the character described with a sectional apron or curtain-front; further,in providing a case section or unit of the character described with a curtain-section and means for interconnecting curtain-sections for forming a continuous curtain for a case of the character described, and, further, in the parts and in the construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinaftermore fully described and claimed.

I do not independently herein claim the adjustable shelf-support herein shown and described, having filed other applications on said subject-matter April 30, 1902, Serial Nos. 105,388 and 105,389, to which reference is respectfully made. Ihave also in another application, Serial No. 92,460, shown, described, and claimed the case-sectionor unit comprising a back and sides without top or bottom, to which application reference is respectfully made, and have also shown, described, and claimed said case-section in other particulars than therein claimed in other applications filed by me February 3, 1902, Serial Nos.

92, 161 and 92,&62, to which reference is also respectfully made.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, also showing the raising-strip in the bottom unit in dotted lines and partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a central cross-section of the top unit and case-sections of my improved device, one of the latter partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a case-section with its curtain-section. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet unit adapted to be inserted at desirable elevation within the case. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of connecting means, between curtain-sections. Fig. 6 is a detail of. temporary supporting means between a case-section and curtain-section shown in cross-section, taken on a line corresponding to the line 00 w of Fig. 7 Fig. 7 is a section of the same, taken on a line correspondingto the line 3 3 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is aldetail of the shelf-supporting means connected to the side of a case-section and shelf shown in section on a line corresponding to the line .2 z of Fig. 2, and Fig. 9 is an inverted perspective view of the shelf-support shown in connection with a part of a shelf.

1 is a case-section; 2, a top unit; 3, a bottom unit. The case-section is comprised of a back 4 and sides 5 6. The sides have grooves 7 at the front for receiving a curtain 8, composed of sections 9 and having a raising-piece 10 and a top piece 11. The top unit is provided with grooves 15, forming a continuation of the grooves 7, and the rear of the case-sections.

mayalso have grooves 16, forming a continuation of the groove in the top unit, so that the curtain may be raised in the front of the case to the full height of connected units, any surplus curtain taking into the grooves at the top unit or rear of the case-sections, the grooves at the rear of the case-sections being preferably to rear of its back, so that the interior of the case may be clear of obstruction. At the meeting lines between sections the grooves are made with flaring mouths 17 for readily receiving the curtain. The curtain sections are interconnected by suitable means, so that when a case-section is placed upon another the curtain-sections may be connected together for forming a continuous composite curtain. I have shown these means as consisting' of plates 21 22, adapted to be secured to the upper and lower edges of the curtainsections. The plates have, respectively, loops 23 24, adapted to be placed alternately next each other in the same plane when the curtain-sections are placed adjacent to each other to receive a rod 25 for connecting the curtainsections together, so that they will move as one, the connecting means being preferably located to rear of the front side of the curtain,

Too

so that the connecting means may be hidden when the curtain is united.

The case units are preferably connected together firmly, so that the movement of the curtain may not disturb the relative position of the units, especially the top unit. As a means of doing this I have shown the units provided with wedge-pieces 29 30, adapted to be positioned adjacent to each other when the sections are superposed with a wedge-clamp 31, taking over the adjacent wedge-pieces and drawing the sections together and preventing upward movement thereof. The top unit may also have a back 35 between its lower end and the groove 15. An apron 36, pivoted on a rod 37, extends across the top unit at its back and normally rests on the top of the back 35, normally filling the space between the back and top board of the top unit, and serves as a continuation of said back for affording dustproof construction. Preferably at each end the apron 36 carries a rubber roll 38 for riding the curtain. When the upper end of the curtain strikes the apron, it raises the apron for permitting the curtain to pass in the groove, the curtain" being then adjacent to the back 35 and the roll 38 riding the curtain, and when the curtain is closed the apron again falls into its normal place.

Supporting-strips 41 extend vertically of the sides at front and rear of the case-sections and have channels 43, in which latter are openings 45 for receiving supports 46, having a shank 17 taking into the channels and-hooks 48 49 respectively at the top and bottom of the support for taking into the openings and against the rear of the strips. The supports are adapted to support shelves 51 or cabinet units, such as 52 53, a separate support being provided for each corner of the shelf and bottom of the cabinet unit.- The cabinet units are provided with shelves taking the form of base-boards 54. The base-boards preferably have recesses 55 for receiving the ledges 56 of the supports. The support has a recess 57 and the-shelf or base-board a projection 58 at each corner for taking into the recess and acting with the hooks and supporting-strips for holding the sides of the case-sections against sidcwise displacement. i

The cabinet units consist of the base-board 54, of sufiicient thickness to support the unit, and the unit may be divided into compartments or drawers, as may be desired, by means of thin partitions, which it is not necessary to finish at the sides, top, or rear, because the same is placed within the case unit, thereby saving in material and finish. In my improved device, also, the cabinet unit may be placed at any desired point in height within the ease-section, and desirable case units may be placed one upon another and supported from the sides of the case, and shelves may also be placed within the case at desirable points for the accommodation of books or") other articles, and the cabinet units and shelves may be placed throughout the case irrespective of the meeting lines between sections and all space within the case thus economically employed and the case be built up by the addition of case-sectionsns exigencies may require.

1 provide means for temporarily supporting the curtain-section with relation to the casesection, so that the same may readily be handled and moved about when separate from the balance of the case. I have shown means for supporting the curtain-section vertically in the case-section and also preventing relative sidcwise displacement between the sides of the case and the curtain-section when disunited from the rest of the case by providing a bolt 61, secured in a recess 62 in the side of the case-section and taking into an aperture 63 in the curtain-section, the aperture being preferably below the plate 22, which latter then rests on the bolt when closed, the end 26 of the plate 22 being turned against the end of the curtain and forming one wall of the aperture 63, forming a strong construction for holding the parts against sidewisedisplacement. Vhen the case-section is placed upon another unit for forming a case, the bolt is slipped back, so that the curtain may slide vertically of the case-sections without obstruction.

I prefer to form the bottom unit with upwardly-extending back 65 and upwardly-extending sides 65 66 of substantially the height of the raising-piece 10 of the curtain with bolts 61 for holding the raising-piece in place when the bottom unit is disunited from a case. Each case-section has a curtain-section of substantially the height of the case-section and provided with means for temporarily holding the same in place when disunited from a case. The front of the top unit is propiece. The top unit is also provided with a curtain-section for providing full length of curtain for a united case. The curtain-section for the top unit is also held in place when disunited from a case-section by a bolt 61. Each unit may therefore be provided with a part of a curtain for forming a united case and united curtain when assembled and providing convenience in handling and assembling.

I claim 1. In an extensible case. the combination of a case-section comprising a back and sides and being open-ended at top and bottom, and a tially the height of the case-section arranged to be passed upwardly past the case-section.

2. In an extensible case, the combination of case sections, each comprising a back and sides and being open-ended at top and bottom, and flexible curtain-sections, each of said ourtain-sections being substantially the height of vided with a clearance 67 for the raising-' IIC flexible curtain-section therefor of substana case-sectiom with means for connecting the curtain-sections.

3. In an extensible case, the combination of a case-section comprising a back and sides and through while the top and bottom of the cabinet unit are maintained in substantially horizontal planes, a top unit, means for connecting a case-section and the top unit, the front of the case-section having grooves and the top unit having grooves for forming continuous grooves when the case-section and top unit are united, with a flexible curtain-section adapted to be moved in the grooves of the case-section or in the groove of the top unit.

4. in an extensible case, the combination of case -sections, each comprising a back and sides and being open'ended at top and bottom, a top unit and a bottom unit for forming a case, a curtain-section for each case-section, means for connecting the top unit to a case- 'scction against upward movement, and means for connecting the curt-ain-sections-for forming a composite curtain.

5. In an extensible case, the combination of a bottom unit having upwardly-extending back and sides.a case-section comprising a back and sides and having open top and bottom, a top unit, each unit and section having grooves for a curtain, a raising-piece for the curtain in the grooves of the bottom unit, and means for temporarily securing the same therein, a curtain-section in the grooves of the case-section, and means for temporarily securing the same therein, and a curtain-section in the grooves of the top unit, and meansfor temporarily securing the same therein, with the top unit, the case-section and the bottom unit arranged to be placed one above the other for forming a case, and means for interconnecting the raising-piece and the curtain-sections for forming a composite curtain for the case.

6. In an extensible case, the combination of a casesection comprising a back and sides and being open at the top and bottom and a-flexible. curtain-section, with means connecting each sidepf the case-section with the curtain section for supporting the curtain-section in the case-section.

7. In an extensible case, the combination of.

a case-se ction comprising a back and sides and being open -ended at top and bottom, and a curtain-section,with means connecting each side of the case-section with the curtain-section for supporting the curtain-section in the case-section and for holding the sides of the case-section against sidewise displacement.

8. In an extensible case, the combination of a top unit having grooves for a curtain, a back between the grooves and lower end of the top unit, an apron movably secured to the top unit and taking past the grooves for arresting the passage of dust, with the apron arranged to be moved out of range of the grooves by the curtain. a

9. In an extensible case, the combination of a top unit'havinggrooves for a curtain, a back between the grooves and lower end of the top unit, an apron pivoted to the top unit and taking past the grooves for arresting the passage of dust, rolls on the apron adapted to be .engaged by the curtain, with theapronarranged to be moved out of range of the grooves by the curtain.

10. The'combination of case-sections each 1 comprising a back and sidesbut being opencnded at top and bottom for forming a con tinuous open. front and interior when said case-sections are placed one above another, and a flexible curtain-section for each casesection, with means for connecting said curtainsections for forming a united curtain.

11. In an extensible case,.the combination of case-sections, comprising a back and sides and being open-ended at top and bottom, with a flexible curtain-section for each case'section of substantially the height of the case-section, means for connecting the flexible-curtain-sections for forming a composite flexible curtain, a top unit, the case-sections having grooves and the top unit having a curved groove for 7 receiving the flexible curtain.

12. In an extensible case, the combination of a case-section comprising a back and sides but being open-ended at top and bottom, and a flexible curtain-section therefor of substantially the height of the case-section, a top unit, the case-section having grooves and the top unit having curved grooves for receiving the flexible curtain.

13. In an extensible case, the combination of case-section's comprising a back and sides but being open-endedat top and bottom, a top unitand a bottom unit for forming a case, a

flexible curtain-section for each case-section' for forming acomposite flexible curtain.

14. In an extensible case, the combination of case-sections comprising a back and sides and being open-ended at top and bottom, and

and means for connecting the curtain-sections curtain-sections of substantially the height of case-sections, moving up and down with relation thereto, and means for connecting the several curtain-sections for forming a connected curtain moving as an entirety.

15. The combination of asection for an extensible case, comprising a back and two sides and being open-ended at top and bottom, a cabinet unit therefor, substantially filling the space betweeirthe inside faces of said sides with the inner front edge for each of said sides substantiallywithin the vertical planes of extension of the inner and outer side faces of said sides for permitting the cabinet unit to'be introduced into the section from the ,front of said section, means for supporting the cabinet unit in the section adjustable to various elevations, and constructed and ar;

ranged for permitting the cabinet unit to be passed entirely throughthe section up anddown while the top and bottom of the cabinetunit are nmintuilwd in substantial horizontal planes.

16. The co ihination of cast sections eonr prising a hack and two sides and being openended at top andbottom. a cabinet unit therei for substantiallfilillingthe space between the inside faceof saitlsides with theinner front edge for each of id sides substantiallywithin the Vertical planes of extension of the in- 'ner and outer side faces of said Sides for per l unit are maintained in :iubstant-iall i horizontal planes. i 17. In an extensible case, the combination of a ease-eection comprising aback and sides and being'opemended at top and bottom, 21

flexible. curtain-sectioi't therefor of su gstantially the height of the case-sectiona bottom unit-having upwardly-extending bee-5; and

for connecting said latter part and said flexible cr1rtainse.ction, said partand flexibie c.ur min-section arranged to be passed upwardly past the caxesection, and a top section into which said flexible curtain-section passes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name hereto in the presence of two subscrilt-ing flitnesses.

EDWARD G. SCHRIEFER lVitncs es:

Enxexr G. SIMON,

HERBERT F. HARDEN.

sides. a part of a flexible curtain therein. means 

